/in California and the U.S./by Mike Lee /California WaterBlog (Davis)by Josué Medellín-Azuara, Duncan MacEwan, Richard E. Howitt, Daniel A. Sumner, and Jay R. Lund
The drought continues for California’s agriculture in 2016, but with much less severe and widespread impacts than in the two previous drought years, 2014 and 2015. Winter and spring were wetter in the Sacramento Valley, to the extent of several reservoirs being required to spill water for flood control, but south of the Delta was […]
One of the shocking truths to emerge from California’s continuing drought is this: the state has no idea how much water it has. Nor do its leaders have a clear idea how much water is actually diverted by users, what it is used for and how much is left over. “It’s kind of surprising how […]
Flames racing through dry brush Sunday destroyed at least 10 homes and forced 4,000 people to flee and firefighters to carry animals out of a northern California lake community that was evacuated in a devastating wildfire last year. Cal Fire officials say the fire about 90 miles north of San Francisco has grown to nearly 5 square […]
From his office along the Colorado River in Glenwood Springs, Eric Kuhn can see the bottom of Lake Powell. Kuhn, the general manager of the Colorado River District, has been working for months on a study asking if future droughts will drop water levels in Lake Powell so low that Glen Canyon Dam won’t be […]
If there’s any hope of preventing California from shriveling into a parched wasteland, the state will have to figure out some simple things first. Namely, how much water it has and where it’s all going. Shockingly, California isn’t tracking much of its water. It’s like a business that’s opted to fire the accountants and operate […]
A year ago, it seems to us, a whole lot of people were thinking over their water habits. We’re just hoping the progress we made at conserving water (albeit forced upon us) won’t go down the drain (pardon the pun). Last summer, people were attending workshops and demonstrations on native plantings and low-water maintenance landscaping. […]
BLOG: Economic Analysis of the 2016 California Drought for Agriculture
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /California WaterBlog (Davis)by Josué Medellín-Azuara, Duncan MacEwan, Richard E. Howitt, Daniel A. Sumner, and Jay R. LundThe drought continues for California’s agriculture in 2016, but with much less severe and widespread impacts than in the two previous drought years, 2014 and 2015. Winter and spring were wetter in the Sacramento Valley, to the extent of several reservoirs being required to spill water for flood control, but south of the Delta was […]
BLOG: Water Accounting: A New Frontier for California
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Water Deeply (New York)by Matt WeiserOne of the shocking truths to emerge from California’s continuing drought is this: the state has no idea how much water it has. Nor do its leaders have a clear idea how much water is actually diverted by users, what it is used for and how much is left over. “It’s kind of surprising how […]
Northern California Wildfire Destroys Homes, Forces Evacuations
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /CBS NewsFlames racing through dry brush Sunday destroyed at least 10 homes and forced 4,000 people to flee and firefighters to carry animals out of a northern California lake community that was evacuated in a devastating wildfire last year. Cal Fire officials say the fire about 90 miles north of San Francisco has grown to nearly 5 square […]
Study: Drought like 2000-2006 Would Empty Lake Powell
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Aspen Daily News Online (Aspen, Colo.)by Brent Gardner-SmithFrom his office along the Colorado River in Glenwood Springs, Eric Kuhn can see the bottom of Lake Powell. Kuhn, the general manager of the Colorado River District, has been working for months on a study asking if future droughts will drop water levels in Lake Powell so low that Glen Canyon Dam won’t be […]
Why the Heck Isn’t Drought-Stricken California Measuring Water?
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Grist (Seattle, Wash.)by Nathanael JohnsonIf there’s any hope of preventing California from shriveling into a parched wasteland, the state will have to figure out some simple things first. Namely, how much water it has and where it’s all going. Shockingly, California isn’t tracking much of its water. It’s like a business that’s opted to fire the accountants and operate […]
OPINION: Don’t Let Reveling Over Water Supplies Get Out of Hand
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Appeal Democrat (Marysville)A year ago, it seems to us, a whole lot of people were thinking over their water habits. We’re just hoping the progress we made at conserving water (albeit forced upon us) won’t go down the drain (pardon the pun). Last summer, people were attending workshops and demonstrations on native plantings and low-water maintenance landscaping. […]